E-bays enforced its listing policy in regards to raw numeric grading

jdimmick · August 21, 2007 6:24AM

I have read on this forum in the past about the reports where E-bay is no longer allowing Numerical MS grades On listed coins that are not certified by a TPG. I have not seen a first hand example of this till last night when one of my Listings was removed becuase I indicated a MS-63 grade in the title. To me, this is ridiculous. Apparently there have been so many reports from people recieving crap & problem junk that e-bay had to intiate something. I consider myself a pretty affluent grader, and do list things accurately. This has me bugged becuase many times I do sell raw coins that are in fact MS, but are not valued enough to cover TPG fee's, then re-sell. Not only that, what about all those off tier slabs that are graded with MS grades that as far from the real grade than many of the raw coins listed, but becuase they are technically a tpg, they accept those in the listing. That is as big or bigger problem with the un-informed buyer than many of the raw offerings.

I do like listing the grades in the titale because it is important for certain coins. For example If I had coin that is typically seen in XF/AU , but I am offering a MS coin, I want buyers to at least open the auction listing and check it out, they may not if it is simply listed as a typical example.

Last night I had listed as follows : 1925 Stone Mountain Half MS-63 Nice and lusterous. Tossed because of the raw grade in the listing. In actuality, this coin was originally out of an ICG-64 holder from a prior customer and a solid Ms-63 example that I would guarantee the grade on.

I see e-bay's policy hurting the sellers listings, more than policing the crap/overgraded problem coins?????

Jim dimmick

Keleum · August 21, 2007 6:33AM

They must have just started that, like today. Last week I was watching a barber dime that stated MS65 raw, that certainly wasn't, it wound up selling for more than I was willing to pay, I think that auction ended over the weekend.

Coinlearner · August 21, 2007 6:34AM

Think I might try is how the hobby graded before those numbers, ie. select-choice-gem M.S.

FLBuffaloHunter · August 21, 2007 6:35AM

You can still offer a numerical grade as long as you state the grade is your opinion, just not in the title of the listing.

Kimchee · August 21, 2007 6:50AM

True, it can be in ANY hard plastic holder and it's okay with Ebay to list a specific grade in the auction title. The number of plastic slabbed coin sellers has exploded. Makes me want to drop a coin into an empty Log Cabin syrup bottle, slap a big MS67 on the front and see if Ebay allows it.

Sean

FLBuffaloHunter · August 21, 2007 6:52AM

As long as you stated it was a log cablin MS67 they should allow it. I doubt anyone would want to buy it though

Russ · August 21, 2007 6:53AM

<< I see e-bay's policy hurting the sellers listings, more than policing the crap/overgraded problem coins????? >>

Yep. It punishes the honest sellers of raw coins, while doing nothing about the scumbag sellers of crap slabs.

Russ, NCNE

GFourDriver · August 21, 2007 6:55AM

<<<Makes me want to drop a coin into an empty Log Cabin syrup bottle, slap a big MS67 on the front and see if Ebay allows it.>>>>

I've seen that coin on ebay.

brocmitchell · August 21, 2007 7:03AM

I really feel that this policy is an illegal practice and is a form of collusion (or perhaps designated with a similar but different definition), whether two parties are involved or not. Since eBay is 'partners' with a few TPG's and posts their services on the site it would seem to indicate such a practice as collusion. While I doubt that intention could ever be proven, or that there even is intention for collusion, the end result is the same however. Honest sellers are punished (probably reported by competitors who are the actual scammers) and the scam auctions seem to run to completion left and right.

A few weeks ago I ran about 35 auctions with only one UNC uncertified coin, it was the only one pulled and all my coins had numeric grades in the titles. This is heavily overstepping the boundary that eBay has set by trying to present itself as a venue only. It makes sense that outright scams, such as calling plated gold coins solid or wal mart purses designer, would be monitored and pulled but with something like coins where there are plenty of honest sellers with honest standards restricting the use of key descriptors really can hurt interest from potential buyers. Especially when the scammer's auctions are still running to completion with the numeric grades in the titles, which would attract the newbie buyers a lot quicker than just Gem Uncirculated as a descriptor.

It really irks me that it has come to this type of action, especially with eBay proclaiming that they are not experts and just blindly pull reported auctions that their CSR's don't know anything about. If they are not experts they need to hire an expert who can tell the legitimate sellers from the scammers, ban the scammers on the spot and report them to local police authority. I would love to see all the high volume SSS's and "MS-67 @$35,000" on dipped poorly photographed coins serve justice for their crimes.

And what makes me borderline furious is the fact that this policy is in place while the Chinese and other orient are selling outright fakes on eBay all day long. Where are their priorities? If I had the resources I would pursue legal action but I don't, and my involvment and access to the coin market is so negligible that I just close my eyes and continue to sell on their site.

I agree with you jdimmick, this is a horrible blunder which does little to prevent the fraud and hurts honest sellers more than anything.

-Broc

morgansforever · August 21, 2007 7:10AM

What about the SGS's, WCG's, and the rest of the rif raf TPG's.

Oh I get it SGS sleeps with Meg.

Like Meg maintains, Ebay isn't for everyone, she has to eat too.

mnmcoin · August 21, 2007 7:11AM

This has been going on for at least a year. I have have a few things ended here and there because of this, but they only end 3 or 4 out of 100+ each time. I talked to my ebay rep and he said the reps are really trying to get this fixed. They (the reps) understand the silliness of it all and are trying to get it fixed, but he said it will take some time.

morris <><

RichieURich · August 21, 2007 7:17AM

<< 

<< I see e-bay's policy hurting the sellers listings, more than policing the crap/overgraded problem coins????? >>

Yep. It punishes the honest sellers of raw coins, while doing nothing about the scumbag sellers of crap slabs.

Russ, NCNE >>

100%. Ebay coin listings have a lot more problems than numerical grades. There are sellers who grossly clean VG coins and call them "Choice BU" for example. Also the third-world slabs with "$300,000 in MS-67" for a cleaned EF coin. And the mystery lots, where the only mystery is why anyone would bid on them! Plus the sellers who are selling counterfeit trade dollars and seated dollars but say "I know nothing about coins".

Maybe now that the ANA is under new leadership, they can use some of this leadership to get some of these bad sellers off of ebay. Hint, hint!

FLBuffaloHunter · August 21, 2007 7:19AM

In a perfect world, there would be one grading company and one grading standard. In a perfect world...

originalisbest · August 21, 2007 7:21AM

This is patently ridiculous. Poor move, eBay.

mrpotatoheadd · August 21, 2007 7:26AM

Careful listing coins on ebay: I'm turning you all in

21Walker · August 21, 2007 8:20AM

I guess it doesn't apply to everyone...........

Linky

ozzyfan269 · August 21, 2007 8:50AM

"As long as you stated it was a log cablin MS67 they should allow it. I doubt anyone would want to buy it though"

OMG, you just made my day! LMAO!

66RB · August 21, 2007 10:01AM

<< I guess it doesn't apply to everyone...........

Linky >>

Yeah, what's up with that?? And this one too!

shmort6552 · August 21, 2007 10:29AM

If this is how ebay responds to all of the "experts" who grossly overgrade their coins I am going to report every single one that has a grade listed.
If everyone does this and swamps them with reports, then maybe they will at least consider alternative actions.

Bruce

PQMorgans · August 21, 2007 10:37AM

Maybe a temperary way around that is to start use something that buyers will realize you have a MS coin I have seen and bid on coins listed as BU. A BU63 would equal a MS63 or BU63. Then again did you try Mint State 63

Russ · August 21, 2007 11:01AM

<< If this is how ebay responds to all of the "experts" who grossly overgrade their coins I am going to report every single one that has a grade listed. >>

You better get to work. The seller that 66RB linked has several hundred listings.

Russ, NCNE

seateddime · August 21, 2007 11:22AM

grade it in roman numeral

LXV = 65

E-bays enforced its listing policy in regards to raw numeric grading

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